In honor of International Workers’ Day, CRNY is excited to premiere a new short video series that spotlights five artists who work, live, and create across New York State — from a drummer in the Bronx to a visual storyteller in Buffalo. These five program participants each have unique practices, life stories, and experiences, representing the breadth and depth of artists’ lives throughout New York.

By profiling the people behind the art and exploring the realities of being a working artist today, we aim to raise awareness of the labor that goes into creating the culture we in New York and across the globe hold dear. On International Workers’ Day—and every day—we celebrate the important work of artists, and reaffirm our commitment to artist worker rights, artists’ financial security, and worker-centered policies that champion artist workers everywhere.

Watch all videos here.